Why a necklace sits differently on you.

Three quick takeaways

How to pick a length without guessing

• Cut a string to the exact length (16, 18 or 20 in) and drape it on for an approximate preview. The actual chain will sit similarly but not identically; chain weight, pendant drop, clothing and neck shape all shift it.
• Or measure a necklace you already like, end to end with the clasp, and match that length. This is the most reliable preview.
• If you want a pendant to sit lower, remember the pendant hangs below the chain. Add approximately the pendant's own drop to where the chain lands.

The display busts and chains in the lesson are modeled generic educational objects at human scale (13 and 15.5 inch mid-neck circumferences). Placement is illustrative and not a promise for any one wearer.

Read the transcript

Why doesn't a necklace sit like the product photo? Three things decide where it lands. First, chain length. It's measured end to end, clasp included. On many people, sixteen inches sits near the base of the neck, eighteen around the collarbone, and twenty a little below. Second, your neck and build. Chain length isn't your neck size. A larger neck uses up more of the chain, so the same chain sits higher. Third, the pendant hangs below the chain. To preview a length, cut a string to that length and drape it on, or measure a necklace you already like. Save this before choosing your chain.

Sources

• Brilliant Earth, necklace length guide: chains are measured end to end including the clasp; placement varies by neck size. brilliantearth.com
• Whiteflash, necklace length chart: landing-position chart by chain length with the note "the same 18-inch chain will land differently on two people." whiteflash.com

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